The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09

VIC yehr were WltDOut SOPy VI sho
Scriptures, are now possessed OF this
g eat blessing. In the same way, dur
ing the past four years, a vastly wider
distribution OF Scriptures has been
made than In any other equal period
Of the society's history, and more than
half million families and individ-
mails In the Unitsd States that were
de 1titute Of the Bible have been sup
piled. Thus the society has been
prosecuting its benehcent work, and
the managers desire to give special
emphasis to the fact that It's uss-
fitness Is not to be measured by the
extent OF its business, but by the
benevolent character oil its distribu-
tions. Most Of its books have gone to
the destitute and to those whom the
merchant does not reach. That multi
tudes would remain destitute OF this
precious gift OF God to man II 1t were
NOS brought to their very doors, 10
demonstrated by the fat Il at about
one-eighth of all the families visited
during the present canvas had no
Bible. The results accomplished in
four years are as follows: Families |
visited, 1929, 225; families found with |
out Scriptures, AIS, 555; destitute fami- |
lies supplied, 33502l; destitute indi-
viduals supplied, 1874 1863.
ain distributing the Scriptures in for
eign a1ds, the BiDe Society is simply
sower Of seed. 1t eapt zss no con-
verts, it builds no churchss, 1t fouuds
no schools, il teaches no industrial
arts, ii maintains no hospitals, it pub
fishes no comments and trsatises, 1t
edits no newspale s. All these things
other organ. cations may fitly dc, es-
tabishing institutions and waiting to
gather in results. But the society's
work is preparatory for all thatisgood.
1t seeks the blesf 1ness OF those that
SOW beside all waers. II follows the
ancient counsel, In the morning SOW
toy seed and in the evening withhold
not thy hand and II is not torgstful
of the reason given Tor liberal outlay,
Thou knowest not whether shall
prosper, either this or thai, or whether
both shall be alike good Its duty is
wisely, diligently, faithfully to
SOW the eeed which is
embodied in the Holy Scrip
turee, and which has vitality of its
own, independent of mans endesvors.
"From the nature OF the case the
society cannot, therefore, tell what
harvest has come from it's sowing.
Others do the reaping, and 1t were
fruitless inquiry to ask what d, finite
resu ts are due to the wide distribution
of the Scriptures in Pagan, Mobam-
medan and nominslIy Christian lands.
But abe managers have the satisfaction
OF reminding the members of the So
ciety that the foreign work Of the co.
ciety has been growing steadily, year
by year and period by period, and that
last year the total CT culstion in other
lands was largely in advance OF any
figures before reported, while
the net expenditure per vol
ume f.r circulating the Scrip
lures lie growing less year by year.
Such results are not due alone to the
society's faithful agents, but in large
degree to the generous and hearty CO.
operation Of the & eat body OF Ameri-
can missionaries, who appreciate the
Importance to the permanence OF their
own enterprises oil having the Scrip.
lures in the hands Of the people and
who spend their time and strength to
promote the result"
The following list gives the namet
of tie agents now serving the society
Lsvant-Rev. DR.. Bliss, Constants
NOBLE, 1857.
vant-Rev Edwin NJ. Bliss, Con
etantinople, 1877,
China Rev. L H. Gulick, Shan
ghai, 1875. .t
La Pies a---Rev.' A. M. Milus-Mort t;
Video, 1854.
Mexico-Rev. H. P. Hamilton, M;x
leo (City), 1879.
Persia Rev. W. L. Whipple, Tia
Brazil Rev. W. N. Brown, RIO d
Janeiro, 1880.
: Jaran-Rev. H. LOOMS, Yoke
} homo, 1881.
, Ouba--Rev. A. ]. McKim, 1884.
/ In all, 8. Under these genera
= agents there have been ss many a
i 376 persons employed in distributin
= the Scriptures for something owe
:, seven months during the year. T.
I meet the expenses incurred in trans
3 lating and publishing and distributin
!. the Scriptures in foreign lands, tn
o amount Of $137, 1857 9S was paid to tn
7 society's correspondents and agent
r and $3.50 665 04 was received frar
n foreign lands,s showing their Rpprt
Is ciation for the Word of Coz
g In our di trict, comprising Kentuck
d aud Tennessee, there were organic
a So auxiliary societies in the yea
n whose results have engaged our a
o tention in genera. Our agent, tn
?. Rev. DR.. Savage, visited LOG auxiliaI
10 societies, so cities, attended A ann
% yer. aries, visited 81 ecclessiasticI
10 bodies, spoke or preached 100 time
N wrote 24S2 fficisl letters, distribute
% 13,847 official do 3uments, and travele
1t on official business 20,376 miles.
l. In Tennessee the American Bible s
IN ciety and her auxilisrles, through the
Of SCENTS, visited 32,032 families, foun
Of 1857 destitute OF the Scriptures, SUI
" piled 1921 families, besides 1912 ind
D. viduals. There were IA counties ca
le ysseed, IL by the American Bible s
e. ciety and 2 by auxiliary societie
d, Shelby county was not one OF them.
r. In closing, can only cay that mar
b, strong reasons present themselves I
1t supporting freely and generously tn
b. providential institution. Ithas no @
u. dowment fund declares no dividend
re Ia indiyiduals-mskes no money {
D. Bibles sod--seeks out the destitute
Of any race or Observation-Disclosures Il
Or Bible without note or comment, al
9. we all claim the Bible as ours 1t
II non set tarisn-the world is its field
~ 40 II helps the Missionary abroad
b, we'll as the pastor at home. 1t is n
h. Bible socisty-it is yours-it is Il
b. worlds. The Lord continue to pre-
O. per this grand agency, and gracious
n, open our hearts to respond to its d
10, mande. d,
an Another hymn was sung, and Il
ee Rev. ]. B. Briney, of the Linden Sire
I'd Christian Church, made stirring a
Id neal to the churches to promptly raj
n. the $1,000 asked for to carry on Il
AZ work during the coming year. I
as reprimanded Christian people I